Srinagar January, 04 (KNS): Ajaz Ahamd Bhat (IAS), Director Sericulture J&K, today inaugurated Farmers awareness programme and 05 Days Practical Training Programme under Extension and Trainings in District Shopian. While addressing the gathering the Director Sericulture highlighted the need for regular skill up-gradation of rearers to leverage the latest technologies at grass root level.
He also added in his address that concerted efforts are being made to give impetus to the sericulture Sector by way of skill up-gradation as a part of the capacity building programme for Silkworm Rearers.
Ajaz Ahmad Bhat (IAS), Director Sericulture J&K while speaking on the occasion emphasized that the unemployed youth in particular and the people in general need to be sensitized vis-a-vis the potential of Sericulture Sector in J&K for earning dignified income in a short period and awareness must be disseminated in this regard extensively across J&K for which the media also has to take its part for wide publicity of all the schemes, facilities and incentives being provided to the Silkworm Rearers by the Sericulture Department so that all the sections of society across J&K can be benefited. Since, the Silkworm Rearing being in-house practice and does not require large space, it can prove advantageous not only for the general farmers but for the landless Farmers as well in deriving substantial income from Sericulture practices as the department also provides financial assistance for construction of rearing sheds. Moreover, the Director Sericulture J&K informed that for any query people can contact the nearest Sericulture Assistant (Zone) or District Sericulture Officer or Directorate of Sericulture J&K, Tulsi Basgh, Srinagar/ B.C Road Jammu.
Ajaz Ahmad Bhat (IAS) while kick starting mulberry plantation drive at Sofanaman, Shopian stressed that the success of the sericulture industry is closely tied to the health and vitality of our Mulberry Plants. Besides, he also advised the field functionaries of the department that the necessary groundwork must be laid for a robust ensuing silkworm rearing season. By training our Silkworm Rearers and focusing on disease prevention, he reposed confidence that the overall quality and cocoon production in the J&K will improve significantly and assured all the stake holders that these awareness programmes will go a long way in bolstering the cocoon production and propagation of Mulberry Plants across U.T of J&K. The Director Sericulture J&K while giving account of the facilities being provided by the department to the Silkworm Rearers assured them of full technical support, disinfectant for disease prevention measures, rearing kits and availability of abundant mulberry foliage in the form of leaf bank.
On the occasion the Director Sericulture J&K expressed gratitude to the District Administration Shopian for providing land in Shopian to the Sericulture Department which will be developed as Mulberry Chawki Garden/ Farm and will also be utilized for the construction of District Sericulture Office, Shopian. Pertinently owing to the acquisition of the said land by the department and development of important infrastructure the silkworm rearers of the area will have a great relief and can now easily avail incentives and others Government Schemes without traveling long distances.(KNS)